The end of the 2012 season seems like only yesterday but almost five months on and several days of winter testing later the teams and riders are ready to race again. As it has done every season since 2007 the Grand Prix of Qatar will be the opening round of the 2013 MotoGP World Championship and for the sixth year in succession it will take place under floodlights at the Losail International Circuit. It is the event's tenth anniversary but as with every year there are plenty of changes to the championship to look out for. The biggest change this year will be a revised qualifying format and a softer tyre compound available only to the CRT riders. Factory foursome Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Márquez and Rossi have dominated preseason and it looks like it could be the closest championship battle in many years.
The POWER ELECTRONICS Aspar Team have dominated the CRT timesheets over the winter testing period and after finishing as the top two riders in the new category in 2012, Aleix Espargaró and Randy De Puniet will have the targets on their backs this time. It is a challenge the pair are happy to accept and they will have each other firmly in their line of sight as they look to be crowned 'CRT Champion' in 2013.
Aleix Espargaró:
“Even though preseason went well I was looking forward to it finishing and for the real action to start. We have a new challenge ahead of us this year, which is to retain the title of top CRT, and I am excited to get started. Being the guy the other CRTs will want to beat is an extra source of motivation for us but on the evidence of preseason there will be more competition and we will have to work just as hard as last year to be at the front. I love the Losail circuit and can't wait to get there and ride. There is a new qualifying format in MotoGP this year and it looks like it will be a lot of fun, especially to watch, and I am looking forward to seeing how it works.”
Randy De Puniet:
“It has rained more than we would have liked in preseason but luckily on the final day of the Malaysia test and at Jerez we drew some positive conclusions. The new ART is a sweeter bike with more set-up options and I can't wait to ride it in Qatar. Last year the top CRT honour was between myself and my team-mate Aleix but it looks like it could be more open this time and I think it will be a fun season. I feel very strong on the new ART and even though we still need to iron out a few things with the set-up I think we are ready for the start of the season.”
Power Electronics Aspar Press Release
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